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Sidney Harman, executive chairman of Harman International, spoke yesterday at the UCLA Anderson S

Entrepreneur and pioneer of high-fidelity audio equipment Sidney Harman visited the UCLA Anderson School on Thursday to promote his new book and provide his personal insights on business to an enthralled audience.

Drawing on his experience from 50 years in business, Harman recounted personal stories and described key practices which have helped him co-found his firm, Harman Kardon, one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality digital and audio equipment in the world with sales of $1.7 billion last year.

In “Mind Your Own Business: A Maverick’s Guide to Business, Leadership and Life,” released in October 2003, Harman explores the role of the company executive outside of traditional characterizations.

He emphasizes that the role of the executive should be to inspire other employees and to encourage a bottom-up culture of governance in which all employees feel they have personal responsibility in the future success of the company.

In his speech, Harman spoke about the need for a company to be set up on sound ethical practices in order for it to be a permanent player in its industry.

“When you run a healthy, honorable business, it works, and the long-run health of the company will be better than that of other companies,” he said.

Harman’s statement rings especially true in today’s business world given the recent scandals that have sunk some of the nation’s larger firms – including Enron, WorldCom and Arthur Anderson.

Business has at times provided him with temptations to stray from this conviction, Harman said.

He recounted a time when advisers from operation units in Europe were suggesting he bribe local officials – a common business practice in some countries.

But Harman refused such actions, not only due to their illegality, but also because he felt this would reflect negatively on his company as a whole.

“What kind of example would we be setting for suppliers and others we deal with?” he asked.

Harman also talked about the trend of specialization in management, citing multifunctional employees as being better-suited for business success.

“I see management as a jazz quartet,” he said. “Let each (musician) master their own instrument, but playing good music requires listening to others and responding.”

Finally, Harman mentioned the importance of writing in a business context, emphasizing its ability to help people think creatively.

He joked facetiously with the audience – which included Chancellor Albert Carnesale – that although his wife urged him to write a book, it was a large “advance” from a publishing house that helped him make his decision.

Jane Harman, a Democrat representative and the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, has been mentioned as a possible vice-presidential partner to John Kerry, Harman said.

“She appears on TV more than Peter Jennings,” he quipped.

Harman himself also has a storied background in government, having served as deputy secretary of commerce during the Carter administration from 1977 to 1978.

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